September is Hunger Action Month, a time when people all over America stand together to fight hunger in their communities.
Food Gatherers – the food bank and food rescue program serving Washtenaw County – recognizes Hunger Action Month each year by highlighting how hunger affects our community and how everyone can get involved to support our neighbors facing food insecurity.
Today, this support is even more critical as the pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity throughout the country. In Washtenaw County, many of our neighbors are turning to us for the first time in their lives, while others need us more than ever before.
Since March, Food Gatherers’ hunger-relief partners have reported a 30-300% increase in people seeking food assistance, for many, it was their first time seeking help. In Washtenaw County, Feeding America projects a 40% increase in overall food insecurity, and a 103% increase in child food insecurity by the end of 2020.
We are now six months into our emergency response and we know that this increased need for food assistance in our community is only the beginning. But Food Gatherers will continue to ensure that people have access to the food they need. Together with our community partners, we have innovated and adapted our services to safely distribute more food to more people, all of which is made possible through the support and action of our community.
This year, Hunger Action Month is the perfect reminder that everyone has a role to play in the fight against hunger. Join us today! September is your opportunity to re-ignite your commitment to ending hunger and every action counts. There are lots of ways to get involved:
Advocate
Help protect hunger relief programs for millions of Americans by joining our advocacy email list. Click here to learn more and lend your voice to food advocacy initiatives.
Volunteer
We rely on volunteer support! Click here to learn more.
Spread the word
Follow us on social media and share the latest updates from our programs. Encourage your friends and family to join you in taking action during Hunger Action Month. Don’t forget to tag Food Gatherers and use #HungerActionMonth!
Fundraise
Invite your friends and family to join in the fight to end hunger by donating to Food Gatherers. Starting a fundraiser on Facebook takes just a few minutes but goes a long way to help families in need. To make a donation now, visit www.foodgatherers.org/donate or call 734-761-2796.
Donate Food
Drop off items at our warehouse (1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105), Mon-Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. More information on our most needed items and donation guidelines is available here.
Donate Lunches with Love
These pre-packed meal bags are a great way to provide ready-to-eat food to our community. Learn more here.
Wear orange on Hunger Action Day – September 10th, 2020.
Snap a photo and share what you’re doing to fight hunger.
If you or someone you know needs food, we have a network of food pantries and meal programs that are ready to help, including the Community Kitchen in Ann Arbor. Please visit www.foodgatherers.org/needfood or call Food Gatherers at 734-761-2796 for a current list of food distributions and meal programs.
To learn more about Food Gatherers and how to get involved, visit foodgatherers.org or call 734-761-2796
Lauren Grossman is the Communications Coordinator at Food Gatherers.